WES Brown was given a run out as Blackburn Rovers Under-23s drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough in their first Premier League 2 game at their new home of the County Ground in Leyland.

The former Manchester and England defender, who is a free agent following his release from Sunderland at the end of last season, cut a cool and composed figure at the heart of a Rovers defence which kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Brown, who is now back to fitness after overcoming the calf injury he sustained shorty after joining up with the club in the summer, was replaced by Tyler Magloire in the 61st minute.

He is now likely to be given more game time before Rovers boss Owen Coyle decides whether to hand the 36-year-old a permanent contract.

Chances were few and far between at the Lancashire FA’s headquarters.

But Rovers did have the better of those that were created with Connor Thomson and Joe Rankin-Costello going close.

At the other end Joao Morelli and Arnel Jakupovic saw shots comfortably saved by Andy Fisher.

Rovers assistant under-23 coach David Dunn had no complaints with the final scoreline.

He said: “I thought the lads did reasonably well, I thought they worked really hard for each other.

“I still feel that we can maybe pass it a bit better at times but overall it was a decent result.

“Middlesbrough are renowned for their Academy and the players they bring through, they’ve got some really good players.

“I thought the clean sheet was the most pleasing thing about us, we had a really good shape and to be fair to the group they are resilient and they stick together, so it is pleasing to see.

“As the game went on we were getting some decent chances towards the end but a draw was probably a fair result.”

Rovers travel to Harrison Park, home of Leek Town, on Saturday to take on Stoke City (2pm), before making their way to League One outfit Fleetwood Town on Tuesday for their first match in the all-new EFL Trophy (7.45pm).

Entry at Fleetwood is £20 for adults, £10 for seniors and £5 for under-16s.